FAYETTE, Iowa (June 29, 2015) – There’s not much more American, than hamburgers, hot
dogs, baseball, and people of the Heartland. Upper Iowa University is in hopes a small
contingent of Mexican educators, business professionals, and college students recently
returned to their country with a lesson in the culture of the United States and the
English language.

Each of the visitors qualified for the cultural exchange to the UIU-Fayette Campus
via a Proyecta scholarship sponsored by the Mexican government. Meanwhile, Upper Iowa
initially applied to participate in the exchange program in March. A month later the
university was notified it had been chosen to host 10 Mexican citizens.

As part of the Bilateral Forum on Higher Education, Innovation, and Research (FOBESII),
the Proyecta 100,000 program is an example of the renewed cooperation between the
governments of Mexico and the United States. While promoting higher education, innovation,
and research, the initiative was also developed to help Mexico increase its economic
value and competitiveness. Among its goals is to increase the number of Mexican students
in the U.S. to 100,000 by 2018. At the same time, the program aims to increase the
number of American students in Mexico to 50,000.

“The Proyecta 100,000 program at UIU went very well. The students worked hard on their
courses and participated in a variety of excursions and activities that complimented
their in-classroom lectures. More importantly, the students achieved their desired
outcomes, and on a more personal level, a true connection between the participants
and UIU faculty and staff was developed,” stressed Ismael Betancourt, UIU vice-president
for International Education. “We will continue our participation in the program and
look forward to staying in touch with these and future students.”

Consisting of six English teachers, two engineering professors, and two university/technical
students, UIU’s guests arrived on the Fayette campus for orientation on Tuesday, May
26. Classroom studies officially began on Monday, June 1, and the visitors returned
to their native country on Friday, June 26.

“I had never been to the States and I wanted to learn about the American culture from
inside the country. When I heard we were visiting the Midwest I was very interested
because I knew we would be going somewhere that is truly American,” said 32-year-old
psychologist/English teacher Jesus Sanchez, before the group’s departure. “Now I am
able to go back to Mexico knowing that I experienced, if only for a month, ‘the American
dream.’”

In addition to improving their English speaking and pronunciation skills on a personal
level, teachers Frank Soria and Ana Contreras agreed that learning more about the
American culture was a major reason they had wished to participate in the exchange
program.

The three professionals from Queretaro, Mexico, each hoped to have the opportunity
to return to northeast Iowa, with Contreras commenting, “I didn’t expect so many friendly
people. We witnessed a lot of culture and had a great time during our experience.”

“Everyone seemed so gentle and kind,” added Soria. “This has changed me as a human.”

“My goal was not only for our guests to improve their English skills, but also get
them out of the classroom and have some fun, while at the same time obtaining a good
impression of Iowa and our American culture,” said David Stewart, UIU Intensive English
Program instructor .

Among the topics of instruction were writing essays and persuasive e-mails; fiction,
slang, and other informal language; and a writing a mini-research paper on American
culture. Among their outside classroom and weekend trips were visits to the home of
UIU President William Duffy for an old-fashioned barbecue, a buffalo ranch, local
dairy farm, UIU’s Harms-Eischeid Stadium, Montauk, John Deere, Mall of America, Pike’s
Peak, Mississippi River, and a Cedar Rapids Kernels baseball game.

Stewart noted that the minor league baseball game especially provided both a lesson
in linguistics and hospitality. He explained the UIU contingent was seated next to
the visiting Lansing Lugnuts’ bullpen, whose catcher was from the Dominican Republic.
The Mexican visitors and baseball player attempted to communicate throughout the game
and a number of the exchange students were rewarded with autographed baseballs.

“This was the first visit to the United States for a majority of the students. Many
of them carried expectations from American movies and television series,” closed Stewart.
“Hopefully they enjoyed their visit to Upper Iowa, Fayette, and the surrounding area.
I certainly plan on keeping in touch with each and every one of them.”

It appears the recently completed Proyecta Exchange not only succeeded in promoting
higher education, innovation, and research, but also developed bonds that span all
borders.

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing
undergraduate and graduate degree programs to about 5,800 students–nationally and
internationally–at its Fayette campus, 25 U.S. education locations, as well as locations
in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering
accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including
online and self-paced degree program. With a focus on developing leaders and lifelong
learners, UIU provides dual enrollment programs for high school students as well as
continuing education and professional development opportunities for learners of any
age. For more information, visit uiu.edu.